SANTA CLARITA, California – Filipinos were among the thousands of residents affected by the wind-driven Tick Fire that broke out close to neighborhoods here.
ABS-CBN News learned that among structures completely destroyed was the home of a Filipino-American family of 4.
The brother of Ryan Pallos of Santa Clarita said that he and his family are shaken up after watching their two-story home completely burn down on television.
The family took pictures of the raging flames in a nearby canyon shortly before they evacuated early Thursday evening.
By early Friday morning, they saw flames engulfing their home on TV.
Several Filipino families are said to live in the same neighborhood as the Pallos family and despite the dire situation, only a couple of the houses reportedly caught fire.
Evacuation centers have opened up, freeways have been shut down, and train services halted as firefighters rushed to save lives and homes.
By Friday morning, firefighters made some progress overnight but worry that the winds, which have fanned the flames, will pick up during the day.
Air quality has also suffered in the region as a result of the fire, and residents in the region have been advised to stay indoors.
The cause of the fire is still unknown.
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source: news.abs-cbn.com
